Golden Jubilee
Sir: One day in spring 1977 my father John Gudenian was chatting to his good friend the actor Sir Christopher Lee. “I’ve just come across a lovely magazine called This England,” said Christopher. “I think you’d like it too. Do make sure you buy a copy.”
My father did and This England became an essential part of our household. I still have that first copy and virtually every succeeding one to the Golden Jubilee Edition of Spring 2018, which my mother and I have enjoyed. The new
series “English News” is an excellent addition to the magazine and exactly what we need to read.
Down the years we have been fascinated, moved, amused and inspired by This England for it encapsulates the land that is so dear to us.
A couple of years ago I wrote an article about my father’s memories of the great Ivor Novello; my father had a long career as a theatrical and film costumier. The article sat on my desk for weeks before I gathered up enough courage to send it to the office of This England and Evergreen. It was a foregone conclusion, I decided, that it would be returned with a polite note of refusal. When I received a letter saying it had been accepted for the 2017 This England Annual tears sprang to my eyes and I wept with incredulity. I also wept because my dear father truly loved This England and now his name would be within its pages.
We English are often hesitant about using passionate words. But “love” is not too theatrical a word to describe how I am sure many of us feel about This England. Thank you, and all the staff at This England, for brightening our lives with such an exceptional magazine and congratulations on your Golden anniversary! — MIRANDA
GUDENIAN, YARCOMBE, DEVON.
Sir: You asked if readers had memories to share of This England. I certainly do. In 1993 I lost my husband Brian to cancer, he was only 54. The following summer, his sister Janet asked if I would like to go on holiday with her and her husband Geoff.
Not wanting to play gooseberry, I said no thank you,
but unbeknown to me they had already asked a friend of theirs, Ron, to make up the foursome. So, leaving Lincolnshire behind, the four of us set off for Jersey. Throughout the week we visited many places, but the Lavender Farm brings back so many memories.
In the grounds stood a gypsy caravan. Having learnt a poem at school about a pedlar’s caravan, I asked Ron if he knew of it. He did and we started to remember odd lines and came up with most of the poem, except the ending.
A few weeks after returning home, Ron and I met up for lunch, and afterwards strolled round a “collectables” shop. There on a stool was a pile of This England magazines. We bought them all and thoroughly enjoyed reading them. In one edition a lady asked if anyone could recall a poem that started:
That was the poem that Ron and I remembered too, but best of all was that in another edition the poem was in its entirety. What memories that brought back to us. Since then Ron has always bought me your lovely magazine, which we still read and enjoy.
That holiday in 1994 was the beginning of a wonderful relationship that is still as close and as loving as ever today. Thank you This England. — JUNE LOWE & RON LINES,
SCAMBLESBY, LINCOLNSHIRE.
Sir: Congratulations to you all at This England on your 50th anniversary. We still have the winter 1971 to the autumn 1973 editions which my parents sent to us after we emigrated to Australia in 1969. We enjoy subscribing because your magazine brings back so many memories and we still get that twinge of homesickness. Let us never forget your lovely founder, the late Roy Faiers. Every good wish to you all, thanks for the memories and what is still the best of magazines. — LES & IRIS
LEE, CARRARA, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA.
Sir: In 1968 I worked at the Municipal Offices in Cheltenham in the Mayor’s Office. The Mayor at that time was the Reverend Markham. He was invited to the opening of the This England office, as he was a friend of Roy Faiers, and I remember accompanying him, and his secretary, Diana West, to the event. It was the first time that I met Roy but it was not to be the last. From that day onwards I subscribed to This England and I used to pass it on to my mother, and she passed it on to her mum. We all thoroughly enjoyed the magazine, and I still take it to this day.
I married in 1969 and moved to live in South Wales, but in 1972 my husband and I moved to Brundall in Norfolk. I worked in Norwich and made good friends with a colleague, who also lived in Brundall.
On visiting her at her home one day she informed me that her old employer was calling to see her that afternoon, and as I was about to leave a car pulled up outside. I thought I recognised the gentleman driving, but couldn’t place him at first; and then my friend called out, “Lovely to see you Roy,” and of course I realised it was Roy Faiers! I’d no idea until then that he’d any connection with Norfolk, but we all spent a pleasant afternoon together reminiscing about his time in Norfolk and how he was now enjoying his life in Cheltenham. — PENELOPE MANFORD,
PLYMOUTH, DEVON.
Sir: I first encountered This England while I stayed for a weekend retreat at Chester Retreat House, Abbey Square. I could not believe the quality and interesting articles on each page. When in hospital in 1977, for the birth of my daughter, I asked my husband if he would bring in the latest copy of This England to help pass the time (in those days we were allowed to stay in hospital for 10 days after a birth — utter bliss!).
From then on I became a subscriber and have not missed a copy. I have sent a copy regularly to my Romanian penfriend, who is a teacher of English and she used the magazine to help her pupils with their English. I have also sent a copy to my sister-in-law. I was very proud to nominate a friend of mine, Canon John Bowers, for the Silver Cross of St. George (Summer 2010) for his fundraising.
I look forward to each edition arriving and feel that your magazine is a mature, well-treasured friend. Many thanks for years of enjoyment and interest. — MARGARET
WORSLEY, WALLASEY, WIRRAL, CHESHIRE.
Sir: I first began reading your wonderful magazine in 1975. Your consistent love of your country and its people never wavers. I love every page of it, the photos, the articles and the humour. Both the old and the new Editor’s Letters are so loyal; the English countryside, of which you are so proud, and the readers’ letters. Congratulations to you all and thank you for being This England. — MRS. A.P.
MITCHELL, STOKE, NELSON, NEW ZEALAND.
Sir: This England was first published in the year we got married. We will celebrate our Golden Wedding in October. As the country looks forward to a royal birth, and two royal weddings, we are pleased that Princess Eugenie is to marry on our special day, 12th October. We will raise a glass to celebrate and count our blessings, whilst we are on the high seas “for that very special holiday”. —
MR. & MRS. C. POTTS, SHIFNAL, SHROPSHIRE.
Sir: I have purchased and kept every issue of This England since 1968. They stand proudly on my bookshelves. My patriotism for our great country is owed to your publication which I hope to be reading for many years to come.
I remember first seeing the magazine before taking my GCE exams when I was staying with my grandparents in Humberston, near Grimsby, only a few miles from where This England was first published.
During the early 1970s I studied at Grimsby College and I wrote to Roy Faiers for information on ‘The History and Development of Newspapers and Magazines’ — a thesis, which I was writing. I was kindly sent a two-page letter outlining Roy Faiers’ experiences in magazine publishing. Later, during my travels for work, I often called in at the magazine’s offices in Cheltenham.
I wish I lived in a caravan, With a horse to drive like a
pedlar man.....
Today, This England is still as it was 50 years ago, as refreshing as a pot of tea! — STEPHEN
MILLER, GRIMSBY, LINCOLNSHIRE.
Sir: May I congratulate you and your team on your Golden Jubilee. How lucky are we that, in these turbulent times, we can read such a wonderful magazine and we can recall, reminisce and, for me, be a little thankful that we’ve seen and experienced life in that “other world”. Thank you for all the memories which flood back when I turn each page of This England.
I have to say your new segment “The English News” replacing “Nelson’s Column” is interesting. I’ve been a reader of the magazine for almost 40 years and loved “Nelson’s Column”, but times change, new things have to come along and this is an interesting couple of pages. Keep up the good work.
Secondly, I must congratulate the oldest family business in Britain today: R. J. Balson & Son — what a wonderful story (“In England — Now!”, Spring 2018). My memory of Bridport, although brief, was of a super little town and I only regret not having called in to the butchers! It is wonderful to see a business from 1515 still thriving.
I look forward to receiving my quarterly dose of reading and here’s to the next milestone you celebrate. — MRS. CHRISTINA
LA PONDER, TEA GARDENS, NSW, AUSTRALIA.
Sir I was too young to remember a lot of England as we emigrated as a family to New Zealand in 1958, although my parents always spoke of the home country in favourable terms. When my mother, Audrey Perry decided to receive This England, I think in about 1970, I found it very interesting catching up on my own heritage. I took over my mother’s subscription when she passed away in 1991 and have enjoyed every edition since. Even my Kiwi husband finds an article or two each quarter that interests him! Well done team on 50 years of a glorious magazine. — SHEILA STREET, WHANGAPARAOA, NEW ZEALAND. *Thank you all for your kind words on our 50th anniversary. — Ed.